Pigtail cap

ABSTRACT

A ball cap accommodates long hair, including pigtail hairstyles, comprises a head covering portion formed from a front panel and one or more side panels. At least one side panel includes an opening slit having edges that are adapted to avoid catching the hair via finished edges. Each slit is sized to accept hair passed there through. A front brim extends outward from the front panel.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY, IDENTIFICATION OF RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Provisional patent application claims priority from pending U.S. Patent Application No. 62/541,774 filed on Aug. 6, 2017 entitled PIGTAIL CAP 2.0 to common inventor Stephen Melvin.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention generally relates to apparel, and more specifically to baseball caps having adaptations for accommodating pigtail hairstyles.

PROBLEM STATEMENT AND HISTORY Interpretation Considerations

This section describes technical field in detail and discusses problems encountered in the technical field. Therefore, statements in the section are not to be construed as prior art.

Discussion of History of the Problem

The baseball cap (or “ball cap” or just “cap”) has long been a useful piece of apparel, as well as a fashion accessory. As apparel, the cap is typically has a brim to shade the wearer's eyes. And, as a fashion accessory, the ball cap typically has a font-panel that contains a logo or other adornment(s) that demonstrate loyalty to a team, a business, or another cause.

As is well-known, often women—typically girls and young adults—enjoy wearing their hair in ponytails or pigtails. For over a century, inventors and manufacturers designed caps for both ponytails and pigtails.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,321,854 discloses a baseball cap with an opening for a ponytail found at the back of the cap.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,249 discloses a baseball cap with an opening to accept a bundle of hair extending from the top of an individual's head.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,145 attempts to improve the appearance of ponytail-accommodating caps which are worn without ponytails by using a plug (or plugs) to close an opening in the top of the cap.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,334 tells of a cap that accommodates both pigtails and non-bundled hairstyles via side-panel openings that are have overlapping tabs to cover each flap.

However none of these designs—or any others referenced by them—have gained acceptance in the marketplace, due in part to shortcomings with each of them. For example, all of the above-mentioned designs either cause hair to ‘catch’ in the hole it passes through, and the designs that use coverings (such as tabs) are annoying for users to wear and can damage other clothing when washed.

Accordingly, what is needed in this field is a baseball cap that is comfortable to wear and to put on or take off, fashionable, and safe to wash. The invention meets these needs.

SUMMARY

The invention includes a ball cap adapted to accommodate hair worn through it, which may be fashioned as a ponytail or one or more pigtails. The ball cap includes a head-covering portion having a substantially continuous sidewall that is sized and shaped to accommodate the upper portion of an individual's head. The sidewall has a lower edge (defining a rim portion) that fits about an individual's head.

The sidewall includes a front panel (which has a brim extending orthogonally therefrom, and may have front panel portions) and at least a first side panel, and may also include second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, etc. side panels. In many embodiments, the panels are substantially triangular, and are coupled/attached to each other in a manner known in the fabric arts, such as stitching or adhesives, for example.

At least one side panel has at least one slit in it, and, indeed a side panel may have two or more slits in it. For example, a side panel may have a first slit having a length and be oriented perpendicular to the rim, and also have a second slit having a second length oriented parallel to the rim. Each slit is sized to accept hair—especially long hair—for placement therethrough.

Each slit has two edges, each which comprise a first raw edge and a second raw edge, and which are finished in manners including stitching, or a gimp to form a Milanese buttonhole. Similarly, the slit edges may be finished with trim, and may be machine made and/or fashioned as keyhole buttonholes.

In another aspect, the invention is a ball cap adapted to accommodate hair worn through it. The ball cap includes a head-covering portion that defines a crown. The crown has a substantially continuous sidewall shaped to accommodate at least the crown-portion of a human head, where the sidewall's lower edge defines a rim portion that fits about a human head.

The sidewall includes a front panel and at least one side panel that has a slit through it, such that long hair can be pushed through the slit. The raw edges of the slit are finished with stitching, and touch each other when the ball cap is worn if no hair is pulled through them.

The front panel has a brim extending orthogonally away from it.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various aspects of the invention and its embodiment are better understood by referring to the following detailed description. To understand the invention, the detailed description should be read in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective-view of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a front-facing view of the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a rear-facing view of the invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a first side-view of the invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a second side-view of the invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a top-down view of the invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a bottom-up view of the invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates the invention being worn by a user with the user's hair pulled through a plurality of slits;

FIG. 9 illustrates a front perspective-view of an alternative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates a front-facing view of an alternative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 illustrates a rear-facing view of an alternative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 illustrates a first side-view of an alternative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 13 illustrates a second side-view of an alternative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 14 illustrates a top-down view of the invention; and

FIG. 15 illustrates a bottom-up view of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EXEMPLARY PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Interpretation Considerations

While reading this section (An Exemplary Embodiment, which describes the exemplary embodiment of the best mode of the invention, hereinafter referred to as “exemplary embodiment”), one should consider the exemplary embodiment as the best mode for practicing the invention during filing of the patent in accordance with the inventor's belief. As a person with ordinary skills in the art may recognize substantially equivalent structures or substantially equivalent acts to achieve the same results in the same manner, or in a dissimilar manner, the exemplary embodiment should not be interpreted as limiting the invention to one embodiment.

The discussion of a species (or a specific item) invokes the genus (the class of items) to which the species belongs as well as related species in this genus. Similarly, the recitation of a genus invokes the species known in the art. Furthermore, as technology develops, numerous additional alternatives to achieve an aspect of the invention may arise. Such advances are incorporated within their respective genus and should be recognized as being functionally equivalent or structurally equivalent to the aspect shown or described.

A function or an act should be interpreted as incorporating all modes of performing the function or act, unless otherwise explicitly stated. For instance, sheet drying may be performed through dry or wet heat application, or by using microwaves. Therefore, the use of the word “paper drying” invokes “dry heating” or “wet heating” and all other modes of this word and similar words such as “pressure heating”.

Unless explicitly stated otherwise, conjunctive words (such as “or”, “and”, “including”, or “comprising”) should be interpreted in the inclusive and not the exclusive sense.

As will be understood by those of the ordinary skill in the art, various structures and devices are depicted in the block diagram to not obscure the invention. In the following discussion, acts with similar names are performed in similar manners, unless otherwise stated.

The foregoing discussions and definitions are provided for clarification purposes and are not limiting. Words and phrases are to be accorded their ordinary, plain meaning, unless indicated otherwise.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS, PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention provides a baseball cap that is comfortable to wear, and comfortable to put on or take off. It is fashionable, safe to other clothes when washed, and provides heat ventilation for the head of its wearer.

Turning now to, and simultaneously referencing, FIG. 1 through FIG. 7, in which FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective-view of the invention, FIG. 2 illustrates a front-facing view of the invention, FIG. 3 illustrates a rear-facing view of the invention, FIG. 4 illustrates a first side-view of the invention, FIG. 5 illustrates a second side-view of the invention, FIG. 6 illustrates a top-down view of the invention, and FIG. 7 illustrates a bottom-up view of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows that the ball cap 100 includes a head covering portion 110 and a brim 120. The head-covering portion 110 (sometimes referred to in the art as a ‘crown of a cap’) has a substantially continuous sidewall (comprised of panels, discussed below) that is sized and shaped to accommodate the upper portion of an individual's head (also sometimes referred to in the art as ‘the crown of the head’). The sidewall has a lower edge 130 (defining a rim portion) that fits about an individual's head.

The sidewall includes a front panel 210 (which has the brim 120 extending orthogonally therefrom, and may have a first front panel portion 212, and a second front panel portion 214). The front panel 210 may also include a first venting hole 222 and a second venting hole 224, as is known in the hat-making arts.

Turning briefly to FIG. 6, it is seen that the invention includes at least a first side panel 610, a second side panel 620, a third side panel 630 and a fourth side panel 640. And, although not shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 6, the ball cap 100 may also fifth, sixth, etc. side panels. In many embodiments, the panels are, as shown, substantially triangular, and are coupled/attached to each other in a manner known in the fabric arts, such as stitching, heat welding, or adhesives, for example.

At least one side panel has at least one slit in it, and, indeed a side panel may have two or more slits in it. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1 through FIG. 6, the ball cap 100 has four side panels, and each of the side panels has a slit. Specifically, the first side panel 610 has a first slit 612, the second side panel 620 has a second slit 622, the third side panel 630 has a third slit 632, and the fourth side panel 640 has a fourth slit 642. Each of the first through fourth slits 612-642 has a length-portion of length “1” such that the length-portion of the slit is perpendicular to the rim 130. Specifically, the first slit 610 has a first length-portion, the second slit 620 has a second length-portion, the third slit 630 has a third length-portion, and the fourth slit has a fourth length-portion. Each slit-portion is sized to length ‘1’, which is of sufficient size to accept hair (and especially long hair) for placement therethrough.

From FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5 one can see that each of the second side panel 620 has a first horizontal slit 624, and the third side panel 630 has a second horizontal slit 634.

Turn briefly to FIG. 4 for a close-up of the fourth slit 642. Here, one can see that each slit 612, 622, 624, 632, 634 and 642 has two edges such as (for the fourth slit 642) the edges comprising a first raw edge 410 and a second raw edge 420, which are illustrated as being finished in with stitching 412 and 422. Alternatively, each raw edge 410, 420 may be finished with a gimp to form a Milanese buttonhole. Similarly, the slit edges may be finished with trim, and may be machine made and/or fashioned as keyhole buttonholes as is known in the apparel art.

FIG. 8 illustrates the invention being worn by a user with the user's hair pulled through a plurality of slits. Here it is seen that the invention is ideally suited for long hair (but may also be used with shorter hair) having hair tails 810, 820 which may be braided, bundled, unbundled, or simply pulled through one or more slits. Accordingly, in one alternative embodiment of a method of using the invention, a user 850 of the ball cap 800 will braid their hair into either a pony tail or a pigtail (each end defining an end of a hair tail), then pull a first end of one hair tail through one slit in the ball cap 800. Next the user may pull an additional end of an additional hair tail through a second slit. Then, the user slides the ball cap to their head, guided by the hair tails 810, 820.

The invention, being limited only by the claims, may take alternative embodiments and forms. For example, turning to FIG. 9 through FIG. 15, FIG. 9 illustrates a front perspective-view of an alternative embodiment of the invention, FIG. 10 illustrates a front-facing view of an alternative embodiment of the invention, FIG. 11 illustrates a rear-facing view of an alternative embodiment of the invention, FIG. 12 illustrates a first side-view of an alternative embodiment of the invention, FIG. 13 illustrates a second side-view of an alternative embodiment of the invention, FIG. 14 illustrates a top-down view of the invention, and FIG. 15 illustrates a bottom-up view of the invention.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with specific illustrative embodiments, it is not intended that the invention be limited to those illustrative embodiments. Those skilled in the art will recognize that variations and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is intended to include within the invention, all such variations and departures that fall within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof. 

I claim:
 1. A ball cap apparatus adapted to accommodate hair worn through it, the ball cap comprising: a head covering portion having a substantially continuous sidewall that is sized and shaped to accommodate the upper portion of an individual's head; the sidewall having a lower edge defining a rim portion, the rim portion for fitting about the individual's head; the sidewall further defined by a front panel and at least a first side panel; the first side panel having a first slit disposed in it; the first slit comprising a first raw edge and a second raw, where the first and second raw edges are finished; the first slit being sized to accept hair for placement therethrough; and a brim portion extending orthogonally from said front panel.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the side panel is substantially-triangular.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bundled long hair comprises at least one ponytail.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bundled hair comprises at least one pigtail.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second raw edges are finished with stitching.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second raw edges are finished with a gimp to form a Milanese buttonhole.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second raw edges are finished with a machine-made buttonhole.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second raw edges are finished as a bound buttonhole having a trim.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second raw edges are finished as a keyhole buttonhole.
 10. A ball cap apparatus adapted to accommodate hair worn through it, the ball cap comprising: a head covering portion defining a crown, the crown comprising a substantially continuous sidewall that is shaped to accommodate at least the crown-portion of a human head; the sidewall having a lower edge defining a rim portion, the rim portion for fitting about the human head; the sidewall further defined by a front panel and at least a first side panel; the first side panel having a first slit disposed in it; the first slit comprising a first raw edge and a second raw, where the first and second raw edges are finished with stitching; the first slit being sized to accept bundled hair for placement therethrough; and a brim portion extending orthogonally from said front panel.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a second side panel.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a third side panel.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a fourth side panel and a fifth side panel.
 14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the front panel comprises a plurality of front-panel portions.
 15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein each panel is coupled to at least two adjacent panels.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein each panel is coupled to another panel via stitching.
 17. The apparatus of claim 10 where the first side panel further comprises a second slit.
 18. The apparatus of claim 10 where the first slit has a length, and the length is oriented perpendicular to the rim portion.
 19. The apparatus of claim 10 where the first slit has a length, and the length is oriented parallel to the rim portion.
 20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first side panel comprises the first slit having a length, the first slit length being oriented perpendicular to the rim portion, and the first side panel comprises a second slit having a second length, the second slit length being oriented parallel to the rim portion. 